Three Perfect Days in Denver. There’s a lot to do in Denver, but three days gives you plenty of time to take in much of what the city has to offer without feeling like you’ve rushed through the sights. In other words, take your time, relax and enjoy. For more information, stop by the Visitor Information Center at 16th Street and California Street.

The first day is a good day to walk around LoDo, Larimer Square, explore the 16th Street Mall, and generally get your bearings. Start the day at the 16th Street Mall at Wazee Street.

Designed 25 years ago by I.M. Pei, the 16th Street Mall is a mile-long pedestrian promenade lined with outdoor cafes and retail shops. This is a great place to launch your first day of adventure. Free shuttles run the length of the mall stopping at every intersection making it easy to cover a lot of ground quickly. You’ll want to stop in many of the shops but one you won’t want to miss is where you begin.

• First Up: Rockmount Ranchwear at 1626 Wazee St., ½ block east of the 16th St. and Wazee St. intersection.

  (303)629-7777
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  Arrive at Rockmount Ranchwear early and you may get to chat with the oldest working CEO in America, Papa Jack Weil. A true pioneer in the fashion industry, Papa Jack invented the western snap-button shirt and opened shop more than 60 years ago. He has sold his shirts to presidents and rock stars alike including Eric Clapton and Bruce Springsteen.
  
  After browsing the selection of western-style shirts, hats and accessories at Rockmount Ranchwear, head back to 16th Street, turn right and go one block to the corner of 16th and Wynkoop where you’ll find another beloved Denver stop.

• Next Up: The Tattered Cover at 1628 16th St.

  (303)322-7727
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  The Tattered Cover is one of the nation’s largest and most well known independent bookstores and often hosts signings by some of the literary world's most famous authors. From the second you walk in the door, it’s easy to see why locals and visitors alike love Tattered Cover. With great views of Union Station, the treasured bookstore offers one of the most extensive collections of books about Denver and Colorado.
  
  After perusing the Tattered Cover, spend some time walking around one of Denver’s favorite neighborhoods.

• Next Stop: Exploring LoDo

  (303)628-5424
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  Day or night, LoDo is a must see. By day, this historic 28-square-block area of restored Victorian buildings and renovated turn-of-the-century warehouses makes for an interesting study in architecture. By night, the restaurants, live music venues, sports bars and brewpubs that pack the area make LoDo the entertainment epicenter of Denver. No trip through LoDo would be complete without at least peeking through the gates of Coors Field. If baseball is a passion, taking in a tour or game is definitely in order.
  
  On the western side (toward the mountains) of LoDo take a step further back in time and check out your next stop for the day.

• Next Stop: The Denver Center for the Performing Arts at 950 13th St.

  (303)893-4100
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  The Denver Performing Arts Complex is the cultural hub of the Mile High City encompassing opera, theater, stage, dance and music. A variety of cultural enrichment awaits you. From symphony and orchestral arrangements, jazz, and musicals to performances by dance companies, theatrical extravaganzas, one-person shows, plays, stand-up comics and more. Most shows and performances require planning ahead and purchasing tickets before the day of the show.

• Up Next: Larimer Square 14th & Larimer Sts.

  (303)534-2367
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  Denver’s oldest block is also it’s most trendy. The shops and boutiques of Larimer Square carry the latest fashions from New York to Milan. Charming and elegant, gas lamps line the street as the mountain views remind you of what lured you here in the first place. With several restaurants and nightclubs, Larimer Square is a great place for dinner and to end your first day in Denver.

• First stop: the REI flagship store at 1416 Platte St.

  (303)756-3100
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  The REI flagship store is an adventure in itself. Here, you can rent bikes and explore the biking trails that run along the South Platte and Cherry Creek. The converted 1901 Tramway building is an award-winning architectural accomplishment and an outdoor adventurists paradise with everything from hiking and leisure attire to sunglasses, GPS systems and anything else you could use to explore the outdoors. While you’re here, put your climbing skills to the test on the indoor 47-foot climbing pinnacle.
  
  Feeling refreshed after your leisurely bike ride, head to the Capitol Hill area where you’ll find your next two stops.

• Next Stop: The Kirkland Museum at 1311 Pearl St.

  (303)832-8576
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  Take in the Kirkland Museum’s collection of 20th-century decorative arts. On display is more than 3,300 works of Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau, Glasgow Style, Wiener Werkstatte, De Stijl, Bauhaus, Art Deco, Modern, and Pop Art. Additionally, a major survey of Colorado art history is documented with over 170 artists represented by more than 700 works with a strong focus on the first thee quarters of the 20th Century. Also, be sure to view the retrospective of Colorado’s distinguished painter Vance Kirkland (1904-1981).
  
  Virtually next door to the Kirkland Museum is your next attraction.

• Next Stop: The Molly Brown House at 1340 Pennsylvania St.

  (303)832-4092
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  No trip to Denver would be complete without a stop by the house of its most famous prospector, Molly Brown. Margaret “Molly” Brown gained wealth during Denver’s gold rush days and fame as a Titanic survivor, earning her the nickname “Unsinkable Molly.” This historic turn-of-the-century mansion contains original furnishings and mementos including furniture, china, silver, artwork, photographs and textiles. Her adventurous travels often overshadowed her philanthropic and political contributions and the Molly Brown House is a great place to learn about all facets of the woman and the times in which she lived.

• Last stop: Dinner in Uptown 17th & Humbolt Sts.

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  Close to City Park lies a neighborhood filled with numerous dining choices – Uptown. From upscale Italian to casual Vietnamese, you can easily walk this area filled with diverse option.

• First Stop: Red Rocks Amphitheatre located 15 miles west of Denver.

  (720)865-2494
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  Aside from being a geological wonder 70 million years in the making, Red Rocks Amphitheatre is one of the world’s most famous concert sites and a must see for any music enthusiast. Well-known symphonies, and bands ranging from The Beatles to U2 have graced the stage surrounded by dramatic 500-foot high red sandstone cliffs. Trails surrounding the concert venue, and a spectacular view of the plains make it a perfect place for moderately challenging hikes. There are also dinosaur tracks and fossil fragments dating back 160 million years to captivate geologist and students alike.
  
  When you’re finished imagining what it would have been like witnessing some of the greatest musicians ever performing in such a breathtaking venue head to Golden where you’ll find your next attraction.

• Next Stop: Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave at 987½ Lookout Mountain Rd.

  (303)526-0744
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  William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody epitomized the Old West. After leaving his boyhood home in Leavenworth, Kansas at age 11, he went on to become a cattle herder, worked on a wagon train, mined for gold, rode in the Pony Express, scouted for the Army, and traveled the world with the Buffalo Bill’s Wild West shows. Upon his request he was buried atop Lookout Mountain in 1917. The museum opened in 1921 and offers a look into life in the Old West. It contains exhibits on Buffalo Bill’s life, the Wild West shows, Indian artifacts including Sitting Bull’s bows and arrows, Western art and firearms.
  
  After exploring the life of the famous frontiersman, head back to Denver for some shopping and fine dining.

• Next Stop: Cherry Creek located just south of downtown at First, Second & Third Aves. from University to Steele.

  (303)394-2903
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  Cherry Creek North and Cherry Creek Mall make up Denver’s preeminent shopping and dining district. Cherry Creek North is a 16-block shopping and dining extravaganza and home to more than 320 independently owned shops, boutiques, galleries, restaurants and spas. Adjacent to Cherry Creek North is the upscale Cherry Creek Mall with an additional 160 brand name stores that when added together create the largest, most diverse shopping district between Chicago and San Francisco. Spend the afternoon browsing one-of-a-kind items and looking for the perfect memento of your trip to the Mile High City. After you’ve shopped to your heart's content, there are more than 50 restaurants to choose from in the neighborhood including some that are gaining national recognition as some of the finest in the country.
  
  Thus concludes the final day of your whirlwind adventure around Denver.